An Indian student in Melbourne, Australia, was stabbed to death by two brothers of Indian-origin over a rental scuffle. The accused duo, Abhijeet (26) and Robin Gartan (27) were arrested in New South Wales’ Goulburn city on the morning of May 7 after a manhunt.

The deceased, Navjeet Sandhu, a native of Gagsi village in Haryana’s Karnal, was pursuing an MTech degree in Melbourne. As per preliminary reports, Sandhu was stabbed to death on the night of May 5.

Sandhu’s relative, Yashvir, said, “Sandhu was trying to intervene in a dispute over rent between some Indian students when another student attacked him with a knife. The young man lost his life while trying to save his friend.”

Yashvir said, “Navjeet’s Indian friend had asked him to drop by his place to shift his belongings as Navjeet owned a car. When his friend went inside, Navjeet heard loud shouting, and a brawl erupted inside the house. When Navjeet tried to intervene between them and insisted on compromising, he was stabbed in the chest with a knife.

The accused was also said to be a Karnal native.

Yashvir further added that Navjeet’s friend, who was also attacked in this incident, sustained injuries. The whole family is in shock.”

He mentioned that Navjeet was a bright student and had planned to fly back to his family during vacations in July. Navjeet had gone to Australia on a study visa a year and a half ago. His father, a farmer by profession, had to sell one and a half acres of land to send his son abroad.

The family has requested that the Indian government provide help in repatriating the body to India as soon as possible.

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